Automatic beverage dispenser with key control

ABSTRACT

An automatic beverage dispenser operated by keys and provided with means for automatically dispensing a liquid and with means for providing a price indication and recordation for the drink chosen and a recordation of the number of drinks dispensed by each key holder. Means are provided for concurrently dispensing more than one drink without interfering with the dispensing of the other drink. The electronic means including pulse counters are utilized to accomplish the above discribed functions.

United States Patent Erne et al.

[54] AUTOMATIC BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH KEY CONTROL [72] Inventors:Hansjorg Erne; Laszlo Halma, both of Zurich, Switzerland [73] Assignee:Derby-Anstalt, Liechtenstein [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:64,260

3,428,218 2/1969 Coja ..222/129.4 X

[ 51 Aug.22, 1972 Brice ..222/153 Woodward ..222/153 X PrimaryExaminer-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. KocovskyAttorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT An automaticbeverage dispenser operated by keys and provided with means forautomatically dispensing a liquid and with means for providing a priceindication and recordation for the drink chosen and a recordation of thenumber of drinks dispensed by each key holder. Means are provided forconcurrently dispensing more than one drink without interfering with thedispensing of the other drink. The electronic means including pulsecounters are utilized to accomplish the above discribed functions.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures EEIEE IHEEI 1 20 21 PATENTEUAUSZZ 1912SHEET 1 0F 4 mmmm Fig.1

AUTOMATIC BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH KEY CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to an automatic beverage ing, oftenresulting in long waits for the customer. Such waits frequently resultsin customer dissatisfaction and annoyance. Further, in restaurants andthe like, individual waiters may be called upon to mix and serve drinks.Frequently, they are inexperienced to such matters and the results oftheir efforts is often found wanting. In addition, it is important tokeep a tally of drinks served for accounting purposes.

In order to remedy such problems, automatic beverage dispensing systemshave been devised which are capable of being operated by a bartender orwaiter with a key for operating the dispensing system. Such systemssuffer from several disadvantages. It is necessary to record the numberand amount of drinks made by each waiter or operator. Such recordationand totalization systems frequently are relatively inaccurate due totheir complex nature. Thus, since the price of each mixed drink mayvary, the amount of information which must be accommodated by the systemis often too cumbersome for it to accommodate. In addition, such systemsare not capable of concurrently being operated by more than one operatoror key holder. When concurrently operated, errors in the mixingdispensing and recording process change to operations are frequentlyencountered.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquidmixing and dispensing system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a systemwhich is relatively simple in design and easy to operate.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such asystem which is capable of being concurrently operated by more than onekey holder or opera- 1101'.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a systemincluding improved means for recording the amount and number of drinksdispensed by each key holder or operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a dispensingsystem including means for totaling the charges for the drinks mixed ordispensed by each key holder or operator.

. Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principals of thepresent invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing anautomatic liquid mixing dispensing capable of concurrently dispensingmore than one drink without interfering with the dispensing of anotherdrink. Means are provided for simultaneously recording the number andamount of drinks dispensed to each key holder or operator and recordingthe corresponding monetary amounts. Such a dispensing system is providedwith electronic means, including pulse counters for accomplishing theabove said functions. Further description of the principle of thepresent invention and an embodiment thereof will be set forth below.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic dispensing systemconstructed in accordance with the principles of 0 the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the dispensing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of theelectronic circuity suitable for use with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The beverage dispenser illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2includes a square housing 1. A plurality of control keys and indicatorswill be described later, are mounted on a front panel 2 of the frontportion of the housing 10. A recess 3 is provided in front panel 2. Sixpipes or pipelines 4 through 9 terminate below the front panel 2 inrecess 3 and dispense a beverage into containers or glasses 10 placed ona bottom platform portion formed in recess 3. In the embodiment shown,the pipes are arranged in two groups and 7, 8 and 9 forming the other.

The beverage dispenser system of the present invention is capable ofbeing operated by six key holders or operators. In other words, unlessthe operator is in possession of the requisite key, the dispenser systemcannot be operated. When a specific key is inserted in the correspondingkeyhole or slot, a corresponding electronic circuit is energized forrecording the amount of liquid dispensed and the type thereof.Additionally, the price of each drink dispensed for each waiter inaccordance with the key hole operated is simultaneously recorded andtotaled; lllustratively, the six key switches 11-16 are shown andmounted on the front of front panel 2, with each key switch beingoperated by one of six diflerent keys. A larger number of key switchescan be accommodated, for which purpose six additional key holes 17 areprovided in front panel 2, as shown in FIG. 1, which are covered byblind discs. Each key switch 11-16 has a respective warning light 18associated with it, which lights up when the corresponding key switch isoperated by the proper key. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, 12 suchsignal lights 18 are provided corresponding to the capacity of 12 keyswitches. In accordance with the feature of the present invention, asupplementary key switch 19 is provided on the front panel 2 to permitthe dispenser to be operated by an attendant or other service personnel.

SIx pushbuttons 20-25 are mounted at the bottom of front panel 2 forselecting the beverage or liquid to be dispensed or poured, their numbercorresponding with that of the beverage pipes 4 through 9. Pushbuttons20 through 25 can also be designed to be luminous, thereby indicatingwhen a specific beverage is being dispensed. An indicator device 26 ismounted in the topmost portion of front panel or face plate 2. Theindicator device 26 includes three Nixie tubes 27, 28 and 29 whichprovide a visual indication of the price of the selected beverage whenone of the keys 20 through 25 is depressed. The visual indication servesas a check to insure that the proper price is being charged for theselected beverage.

The operation of the beverage dispenser shown in FIG. 1 is as follows:On the assumption that none of the key switches is in its activeposition, namely that none of the signal lights 18 is lighted, thewaiter fits his key into the relevant key switch 11 to 16 and then turnsthe key. The signal light 18 associated with the selected key switchlights up and thereby indicates that the automat is ready for selectionand dispersing of the beverage. The key can now be turned back andwithdrawn. The glass is then placed in the recess 3 beneath the group ofpipelines 4 to 9 which will dispense the beverage to be selected, forexample, under the group of pipes 4 to 6. The desired beverage button,in this instance, one of the buttons to 22, is then depressed and a veryshort time thereafter the annunciator or indicator device 26 shows theprice of the selected liquor and the liquor itself flows from thepipeline into the glass. During the dispensing process, the key can beturned back and withdrawn. After the glass has been filled, the flow ofliquor is automatically stopped, the bulb lighting the pressed buttongoes out and thereby indicates that delivery of the liquor has beencompleted.

As will later be described in detail, the present beverage dispenser isconstructed that an additional beverage can be dispensed concurrentlythrough the second pipeline group, that is, in one of the pipelines 7 to9, although dispensing of the first beverage has not been completed. Forthis purpose, the dispenser is so constructed that when the key isturned back, the corresponding signal light 18 and the price indicator26 go out a predetermined time before the completion of the beveragedelivery. The same or another key switch can then be immediatelyoperated, and after placement of an additional glass 10 beneath thesecond group of pipelines 7 to 9, one of the beverage buttons 23 to canbe pushed for delivery of a subsequent drink.

As shown in FIG. 2, the beverage dispenser includes counter mechanisms31 and 32 within the housing 1, which can be read after lifting andunlocked shutter 33. A first group of the counting mechanism includestwelve electromechanical registers 31, of which each one corresponds tokey switches 11 to 16 and the further six key switches 17 not yetmounted according to FIG. 1. After the operation of a key switch and thepressing of a beverage button, the price of the selected liquor indollars and units of a nickel, for example, is displayed on the countermechanism 31 corresponding to the selected key switch and added to theprevious registered total.

Each counter 31 accordingly shows the sum total of prices of thebeverages taken from the machine by the holder of the key in dollars andcents and thus aids in the calculation of the waiters charge.

A further group of counter mechanisms includes six electromechanicalregisters 32, of which each register corresponds to one of the beveragebuttons 20 to 25 of FIG. 1. On pressing one of the buttons 20 to 25,respectively and the consequent delivery of the selected drink, theappropriate counter increases by a step or unit each time, so that theregisters 32 indicate the total of individual drinks issued or servedaccording to the type of liquor. Counters 31 and 32 may be of any othertype such as electronic with associated NIXIE displays.

Adjusting mechanisms 36,37 and 38 are mounted inside housing or casing 1behind a second lid 35 which can be locked in place by a key 34. Thesemechanisms include six groups each of three assigned preselectorswitches 36 for the beverage prices, namely, the price of a shot issuedin each particular case. Each of the beverage buttons 20 to 25 in FIG. 1corresponds to a group of three preselector switches 36. The switches 36are formed of preset disks 39 providing a display signal 40, which ismoved by contact sectors (not shown) and rotates disk to display thedesired numeral. The rightmost disk of switch 36 has two positions withthe numerals 0 and 5 for registering in nickel price units, while thetwo left disks each have 10 numerals for setting up dime or dollarunits, so that the maximum beverage price that can be displayed is$9.95. The shot price displayed by means of switch 36 is computed in oneof the registers 31 on the one hand when the dispenser is operated andindicated in the indicator device or annunciator 26 (FIG. 1).

The setting mechanisms further include six adjusting controls orpotentiometers 37, of which each is assigned to a particular beveragebutton 20 to 25 (FIG. 1) and the potentiometers can adjust the amount ofliquid delivered for each shot in the manner hereinafter described.

Finally, a key switch 38 is provided which serves to electrically resetthe registers 31 and 32 to zero and independently to disconnect thehereinafter described control device housed in casing 1 whenever a faultoccurs, and to permit the delivery of the required drink only when oneof the beverage buttons 20 to 25 is depressed and maintained in thatposition.

Fundamentally the same processes take place through the operation of theadditional key switch 19 shown in FIG. 1 as with the operation of one ofthe key switches 11 to 16. The difference consists in the fact that thekey switch 19 blocks the computation of the individual beverage price inone of the registers 31 of FIG. 2 so that key switch 19 serves for thedelivery of unbilled free drinks or operational tests of the automat ordispenser system.

FIGS. 1 and 2 do not show supply containers for the beverages to bedispensed nor means for conveying the beverages from such containers tocasing 1, which includes feed pipelines and gaseous pressure agents suchas carbonic acid gas or nitrogen, since they are located outside thecasing 1. On the other hand, casing 1 does contain as mentionedhereinafter, solenoid valves for facilitating or interrupting the liquorfeed from the containers to the pipelines 4 to 9.

From the basic sketch of the correlative FIGS. 3a and 3b, a controlcircuit arrangement will now be described, housed in casing 1 of FIGS. 1and 2 which serves to carry out the described operational functions ofthe beverage dispenser as well as of desired lockages in the course ofoperations.

According to FIG. 3a, key switches 11 to 16 of FIG. 1 each include onecontact 11' to 16' and a further contact 11" to 16" each, of which onlycontacts 11', 12' and 16' or l1", l2" and 16" are shown respectively,and the remaining similarly connected contacts are indicated by dots.Each contact 11' and 16 lies in the transfer circuit between ainhibiting circuit 41 common to all contacts and a wiring sectionprovided individually for each contact comprising the series connectionsof a storage unit 42 built as a bistable trigger circuit, of anamplifier 43 and to the electromagnetic counter mechanism 31 of FIG. 2assigned to each key switch. The signal light 18 (FIG. 1) assigned tothe corresponding key switch is connected to the output of amplifier 43in addition to the counter mechanism 31. Each counter 31 has twoterminals, of which one terminal each is connected to the output of theparticular amplifier 43 and is constructed as a make-and-breakconnection for the counting process, while the other terminal of eachcounter is connected to a common line 44, over which counting impulsesare fed simultaneously to all counter mechanisms 31.

v The output of each storage means or unit 42 is, additionally,connected over a line 45 to one input of a primary link circuit 46,which performs an OR-function. The output of the OR-link circuit 46 online 47 is supplied as one input to a two input AND circuit 48. Thesecond input of the AND circuit 48 is connected to the contacts 11" to16" of key switch which are wired in parallel on a line 49 to the secondinput. A fixed potential 50 which can be ground, for example, isconnected to line 49 through the contacts 11 16-. The output of the ANDcircuit 48 is connected over a line 51 to the input of the cut-offcircuit 41.

Each storage 42 has a second input, these second inputs of all thestorage means being connected to a common line 52 over which a resetsignal is fed to the storage means 42. Line 52 is connected to theoutput of a two input AND gate or circuit 53. Wire 49 is supplied to oneinput of the AND gate 53, while a line 54 is connected to the otherinput and carries a reset signal as described hereinafter.

Cut-off 41 and gates 46, 48, 53 are provided for the purpose ofpreventing the effect of the operation of a key switch whenever anotherkey switch has already been put in operation and the dispensing of abeverage thereby produced has not yet been terminated. On operation ofone of the key switches 11 to 16 of FIG. 1, for example, key switch 11,the pertinent closing contact 11 (FIG. 3a) is momentarily closed,whereupon a signal is sent by the cut'out 41 to the setting input of thestorage means 42, so that the latter is gated into the working state,for which the output cut-off 41 must be unblocked a predeterminedpotential effecting the change of state of storage device 43 is providedthrough the closed contact 11'. This is the case whenever the ANDcircuit delivers an On signal over line 51 to cut-off 41, therebyopening or releasing the latter. The AND circuit 49 is so constructedthat it delivers such On signal whenever an Out signal is on its inputline 47, this corresponding to the rest condition of all storage devices42 (no storage 42 being set) and an In" signal is simultaneously presenton its second input line 49, corresponding to the operating condition ofkey switch 11 (key switch 11 in operation). The latter In signal isproduced by the closing contact 11" closing on the operation ofkey=switch 11 and transferring potential 50 over line 49 to the inputand the AND circuit 48, while the first-mentioned Out signal then is online 47, if there is no In signal at one of the inputs of the OR circuit46 corresponding to the working or set position of one of the storages42.

After the said switching of states storage device 42 from its rest stateinto its set state by operation of key switch 11 and conclusion of theclosing contact 11', and In signal appears on line 45 which isdistinguished from the preceding Out signal by voltage level orpolarity. The OR circuit 46 then also supplies an In signal to line 47,so that the condition for the delivery of an On signal to line 51 by theAND circuit 48 is no longer fulfilled and cut-out 41 is closed. By thatmeans, the operation of each further key switch 12 to 16 or the closingof each further closing contact 12' to 16 stays inactive as long as thestorage 42 can, however, only be restored to its reset or set positionby a signal on line 52, so long as no beverage selector button ispressed or when, at least, the beverage dispensing is started.

The In signal generated by storage device 42 on its switching into itsoperating or set position is amplified in the amplifier 43. Theamplified output signal operates the signal light 18 and releases theregister 31. Counter pulses arriving over line 44 can now be counted inthe register 31 of the key switch 11 but not in the other registers ofthe other switches 12 to 16.

The contacts 19' and 19" pertain to the supplementary key switch 19 ofFIG. 1. The contact 19' is in parallel shunted to any closing contact,such as contact 16' while the closing contact 19" is shunted acrosscontacts 11" to 16". Key switch 19 includes a third contact 19"constructed as a normally closed contact, disposed in the counter pulseline 44. The setting of a storage device 42 and the locking occurssimilarly to the way it does with one of the key switches 11 to 16.However, when the key switch 19 is turned the line 44 over which thecounter pulses are supplied to register 31 is interrupted, so that thebeverage dispenser is actually in operation but a price registration inany of the registers 31 is blocked. As an alternative, the operatingvoltage of the register 31 and signal lights 18 can be disconnected bythe opening of contact 19". A reset signal is fed to the storage devices42 by the AND circuit 53. AND-gate 53 delivers a reset signal to line 52whenever there is a simultaneous occurrence of the conditions that oneinput line of gate 53 has a reset signal and the other input line ofgate 53 an out signal equivalent to the condition of no key switchoperating so that a consecutive starting of the beverage dispenser isnot possible if a first key has been left inadvertently inserted in itsoperative position. The production of a restoration pulse on line 54then occurs at the earliest when the pulse-counting process forregistration of the price of the beverage delivered has been completed,as is explained hereunder.

For production of the counting pulse a constantly running impulsegenerator 55, a multivibrator for instance, is provided, producing about15 to 20 pulses per second. A gate circuit 56 permits a number ofimpulses corresponding to the price of the dispensed beverage to enterline 44 over which the pulses are supplied to one of the registers 31and to an electronic counter including elements 57, 58, 59. This counterincludes a flip-flop circuit 57, a first and second binarycoded decimalcircuit 58 or 59, whereby the numeral channels 27, 28 and 29 of theannunciator 26 (FIG. 1) are connected in known manner to the binaryoutputs of the counter stanges. It is assumed in the foregoingembodiment that each counter pulse corresponds to a one-nickel unit. Theflip-flop circuit 57 accordingly counts units of one nickel (numeralindicators 0 and 5), the decimal stage 58 units of one dime (numeralindicators to 9) and decimal stage 59 units of one dollar (numeralindicators 0 to 9). The binary outputs are carried over a 10 line bus 69to the further portions of the present circuit arrangement illustratedin FIG. 3b.

Control of gate circuit 56 comes through the output signal of an OR-gate61 comprising six input lines 62 to 67. A signal of one polarity on oneof the input lines 62 to 67 generates an On signal on the output linewhich opens the gate circuit 54. When this input signal is removed, thegate circuit is again closed.

The On signal of the OR circuit 61 also trips an adjustable timingcircuit 68 which can be a Miller integrator, for example, with an addedSchmitt trigger connected thereto.

As a result of direct control, the On signal produces an instantaneouschange of the output state of timing circuit 68. After the OR circuit 61returns to the closed state, a signal appears at the output of timingcircuit 68 after lapse of the adjusted time lag, over line 54, whichbeside resetting the coded storage device 42 also sets the electroniccounters 57,58,59 and the number indicator tubes 27, 28, 29 back tozero. The time lag of timing circuit 68 is so regulated that forpurposes of verification, the price indication in number indicator tubes27 28, 29 the state of operation in signal lights 18 will remain on forsuch time lag, whereby the keyholder who is operating the dispenser cancheck the operation.

The circuit portion shown in outline in FIG. 36 will assist thefollowing explanation of the control of beverage dispensation and pulsecounting for recording the beverage price (that is, the control of gatecircuit 56 of FIG. 3a).

The beverage buttons to of FIG. 1 each have a normally open contact 20to 25 whereby, in a similar manner as contacts 11' to 16 of the keyswitches, these contacts are placed between a common blocking circuit 69or 69' and a plurality of storage devices 70, such as flip-flops.However, separate interceptors 69 or 69', respectively, are assigned tothe group of contacts 20, 21, 22 and to the group of contacts 23', 24,25. For the time being only the group of contacts 20', 21', 22 will beconsidered. For opening the interceptor 69, an AND gate or circuit 71 isprovided. For the release, this delivers an On-signal only when there isno In signal present on any of the output lines 72 of the storagedevices 70(no storage 70 coded), when the line 47 carries an In signal(one storage 42 coded according to FIG. 3a), and line 54 is supplying anIn signal (counting run terminated, that is reset signal generated inaccordance with FIG. 3a). If these conditions are not met, the operationof one of the beverage buttons 20, 21, 22' is ineffective. It istherefore not possible, to secure delivery of a beverage by pressing oneof the buttons, if another button has already been pressed, and thepouring of the liquor thus started has not been completed. In addition,delivery cannot be effectuated if no key switch has previously beenoperated and if the computation of the beverage price in one of theindividual registers 31 (FIG. 2 and has not yet been completed, so thatmisrecording of the beverage price or a pouring without priceregistration cannot take place.

The output of each storage device 70 is further connected to the lamp 73mounted in each button 20, 21

22' which lights up when the corresponding button is pressed and therebycodes in the appropriate storage device 70, that is, it delivers an Insignal if the foregoing conditions are met and the blocking circuit 69is unlocked. The output of each storage device is further connected toone of the two inputs of AND gates 74, respectively.

The binary outputs of the counter 57, 58, 59 of FIG. 3a are carried online 60 three groups preselector switches 36, which are provided for thepurpose of generating a renewed signal cutting out the gate circuit 56of FIG. 3a, soon as the number of pulses assigned to the registers 31and produced by impulse generator 55 and carried through the open gatecircuit 56 cor responds to the price set on the preselector switches 36.In a well known manner, each of the preselector switches 36 offers forthis purpose two or four normally open contacts as the case may be, towhich the 10 hinary output lines of counter 57, 58, 59 are connected andwhich are each also connected together through an individual interceptordiodes and across a resistance to a fixed potential. The activation ofthe contacts follows through the adjustment wheels 39 showndiagrammatically in FIG. 2 and provided with a decimal numeral indicator40, whereby the connection between the closings of the individualcontacts and the setting of adjustment wheel takes place according tothe same binary decimal code as that present in counter 57, 58, 59.

As a binary-coded output signals of counter 57,58,59 which developpredetermined potentials (from any value from zero up), a potential droparises for the first time on the common junction of the closing contactsof the preselector switch 36, when the output signal of the countercorresponds to the value set on the preselector switches. This potentialdrop is supplied as output signal of the selector switches 36 to anadjustable timing circuit connected to same.

The timing circuit 75 is constructed as a monostable multivibrator whichis brought dynamically into the quasistable state by the output signalof the selector switch 36 and thereby emits an In signal. After theinterval adjustable by potentiometer 37 (FIG. 2), the multivibratoragain returns to its stable condition and in this state delivers an Outsignal.

The output of each timing circuit 75 is connected in each case to thesecond input of the AND circuit 74, the output of which supplies asignal to lines 62, 63 or 64 if the appropriate storage device 70produces an In signal, that is the storage is coded and at the same timethe timing circuit 75 delivers an Out signal, that is it is in thesteady state. As previously explained by means of FIG. 3a, such anoutput signal of one of the AND circuits 74 over one of the lines 62,63, 64 operates an On signal at the output of the OR circuit 61 of FIG.3a thus opening the gate circuit 56.

Furthermore, the electromagnetic counter 32 (FIGS. 2 and 3b) isconnected through an amplifier 76 to the output of the timing circuit 75and switches forward by one figure each time the timing circuit 75swings from the stable to the quasistable state.

Timing circuit 75 also controls the amount of beverage issued. For thispurpose a magnet 78 is connected through an amplifier 77 to the outputof the timing circuit 75 and operates a valve 79. The valve 79 has thebeverage fed to it through a pipeline 80, while the beverage isdelivered to the glass through the pipeline 4 also shown in FIG. I. Forreview purposes, the amplifiers 76,77, the register 32 and the solenoidvalve 78,79 are drawn individually only for the pushbutton contact 28.Identical elements are however also used for the pushbutton contacts 21'and 22', with the corresponding pipelines 5 and 6 for the delivery ofadditional beverages.

Further, a line 81 leads from the output of each timing circuit 75 tothe appropriate storage device 70. Such line serves to clear the storagedevice 70 dynamically, that is switch it back to its rest position whenthe timing circuit 75 switches back to its stable state. Finally, eachtiming circuit 75 is connected to the appropriate storage device 70through a further line 82, over which whenever the storage is not coded,that is whenever it is at rest, an interceptor signal travels from thestorage to the timing circuit. This serves to prevent an unwantedtripping of the timing circuit and consequently an issue of beveragethrough fortuitous stray pulses or through a pulse of the preconnectedpreselector switch.

The operation of the circuit portions shown in FIG. 3b and ofappropriate circuit portions of FIG. 3a is as follows:

On the assumption that one of the key switches 11 to 16 (FIG. I) hasbeen operated and that none of the previously described lockingmechanisms is preventing the required pouring of beverages, pressure ofa beverage button 20 to 25, button 20, for example, will close theappropriate closing contact 20 (FIG. 3b) and thus code in thesubsequently switched in storage device 70, whereby the storage remainsin this working position when the push button is released and theclosingcontact 20' again opened. In coding the storage device 70, thetiming circuit 75 is unlocked over the line 82. On the AND circuit 74input exists in an In signal provided by storage device 70 and an Outsignal of timing circuit 75, so that a signal appears on line 62 whichproduces an On signal at the output of the ORcircuit 61 (FIG. 3a). ThisOn signal opens the gate circuit 56, so that now the pulses of impulsegenerator 55 reach line 44 and are counted in the register 31 and in theelectronic counter 57,58,59. On the conductors of line 60, the binarycoded representation of the tallied pulses now permanently appears. Assoon as the number of the counted pulses in the binary codedrepresentation agrees with the binary coded decimal adjustment of thepreselector switch 36 (FIG. 3b) of closing contact 20, a pulse appearson the output of the preselector counter which releases the unlockedtiming circuit 75.

On the momentary switch of the timing circuit 75, its output recordinglevel changes from the Out signal to the In signal. On the AND circuit74, there are now the In signal of the storage 70 and the In signal oftiming circuit 75, so that the output signal of the AND circuit fallsback to its original value befor the coding-in of the storage. The Onsignal at the output of the OR circuit 6i (FIG. 3a) likewise disappears,and the gate circuit 56 is closed so that no further pulses reach line44. Since the switch and signal intervals from the moment the timingcircuit 75 is tripped are altogether substantially smaller than the timebetween two counting pulses of the impulse generator 55 and the gatecircuit is constructed for putting through only complete pulses,register 31, in fact, counts in only as many pulses as were set up in anequivalent pried indication on the preselector switches 36. As theadmission of counter pulses to counter 57, 58, 59 is also blocked by theclosing of gate circuit 56, the counter remains at the same value andindicates this by means of the numeral indicator tubes 27,28,29 (FIGS.1,3a) thus, for example, an amount of 3.25 (FIGS. 1,2).

As already mentioned, the On signal of the OR circuit 61 is suppliedalso to timing circuit 68 which after termination of the counting run,sets the counter 57,58,59 and the storage 42 back with an adjustablelag.

The In output signal of timing circuit 75 actuates magnet 78 of valve 79through the amplifier 77, so that the required beverage now flows out ofpipe or pipeline 4. At the same time, the In output signal steps the register 32 one numeral forward to record the shot issued. The flow ofbeverage is then stopped again, when the timing circuit 75 swings backautomatically from its quasi-stable state to its steady state, therebydeactivating magnet 78. The duration of the quasi-stable state of timingcircuit 75 thus measures the quantity of beverage poured and canaccordingly be adjusted by means of potentiometer 37 (FIG. 2).

The pulse delivered on the swingback of timing circuit 75 into thesteady state clears storage through line 81 so that the timing circuitis reset over line 82. The AND circuit 74 now holds the Out signal oftiming circuit again, so that after preliminary operation of a keyswitch by pressure of one of the buttons 20 to 25 and through that bysetting of the relevant storage device 70, a pulse counting run andconsequent issue of beverage can again be started.

As already illustrated introductorily by means of FIG. 1, it can beadvantageous to combine the ap paratus for drink selection and deliveryinto two or more groups, thus providing the possibility of taking afurther beverage from the machine even while the issuance of the firstshot has not yet been completed. FIG. 3a diagrammatically shows how thiscan be achieved in the present beverage dispenser as constructed.

The closing contacts 23', 24' and 25 of push buttons 23, 24 and 25 ofFIG. 1 are, as previously described, connected to the interceptor 69'.On the other side, each normally open contact is connected to a storagedevice and to all other portions of the circuit, which are shownparticularly in their relation to the closing contact 20' in FIG. 3b butfor the rest of the closing contacts 23', 24 and 25' are only indicatedas block 83. Similarly for unlocking interceptor 69, a separate ANDcircuit 7i is provided, lines 47 and 54 again being connected to itsinputs as are also lines 72' from the output of each of the storagedevices contained in block 83. The lines 65, 66, 67 are output leadsfrom AND circuits corresponding to the gate circuits 74. Furthermore,block 83 is connected to the bus were 68 for transference of the binarycoded output signals of the counter 57, 58, 59 of FIG. 3a to analogouspreselector switches contained in block 83. The lines 7, 8 and 9indicate the correspondingly denoted pipes or pipelines of FIG. Icollected in one group.

As one separate AND circuit 71 belongs to the interceptor 69', thisbarrier can be unlocked even when one of the storage devicescorresponding to the closing contacts 21, 22' is still coded in, that iswhen the pouring of the first shot is not yet completed. To controlthese functions, line 54 is carrying an In signal (Counting runterminated). If then all the remaining conditions of lines 47 and 72'are met, as has been previously explained, then the delivery of afurther shot over one of the pipelines 7, 8, 9 can be started by closingone of the closing contacts 23', 24, or by pressing one of thecorresponding buttons 23, 24, 25 (FIG. 1), even when the pouring of thefirst shot over one of the pipelines 4, 5, 6 has not yet been completed.

Key switch 38 of FIG. 2 is provided for tapping off beverages from themachine in the event of breakdown of the switching arrangementdescribed. This key switch has a contact bank (not shown) which connectsthe contacts 20 to 25 of the beverage buttons directly to amplifier 77and accordingly to the solenoid valve 78, 79, that is to an appropriatepower source when the switch is in action. The larger part of thecircuitry, especially key switches 11 to 16, the beverage pricerecording mechanism including the counter 57, 58, 59 and the registers31 as well as the automatic dispensing of the beverage issued is thenout of commission. For filling the inserted drinking glass, one of thebeverage buttons 20 to 25 (FIG. 1) must be pressed long enough until therequired amount of beverage has gone into the container.

It is also advantageous to provide the supplementary key switch 38 (FIG.2) with a further contact bank, operated by an additional turn of thekey. Reset windings of registers 31 can be connected to the contactbank, so that the registers can be set back to zero after thecomputation of the total amount recorded by the registers.

The operative parts of the foregoing circuit described by means of FIGS.3a and 3b, can be readily constructed from known switching units,especially from integrated logical circuitry, wherein the signalshitherto mentioned are binary signals, of which one significant stateis, for example, the earth potential and whose other state is a positivepotential. It is an advantage to arrange the circuit elements assignedindividually to one of the closing contacts 11 to 16 and 20' to 25 on acommon plug-in printed circuit board and to provide correspondingsockets in the apparatus, so that the beverage dispenser can at any timebe changed to accord with the then required control modifications(number of key switches, number of beverages dispensed) by simpleaddition, removal or interchange of the circuit boards. If several ofthe beverages to be dispensed have the same price, so that only twoprices, for instance. are required, it can also be advantageous to codethe preselector devices 36 only in a quantity equivalent to the numberof the price stages, thus for example only two preselector devices, andto assign one or the other preselector setting either permanently orcommutably to each beverage switch.

It can also be advantageous to provide an optical empty warning for thesupply tanks containing the beverages to be dispensed. This can be donesimply, by having the beverage outpour from the stock tanks monitored bya conductimeter for example, and

providing a circuit which operates a flashing of the pertinent beverageselector lamp when the outpour dwindles, that is when the resistance ofthe measuring section rises.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic beverage dispenser for dispensing drinks having aplurality of key-operated switches, each of said switches being actuatedby a different key, a plurality of dispensing pipes for said drinks, aplatform for at least one liquid container, said platform being locatedbelow said dispensing pipes, a plurality of beverage selector switches,said beverage selector switches being selectively operated to controlthe type of beverage dispensed through one of said pipes, and summingindicator means for additively registering and displaying monetaryamounts corresponding to the beverages dispensed, an improvement whereinsaid indicator means includes a plurality of first pulse counters eachassociated with a different key-operated switch for counting pulses in apulse train the length of which corresponds to the monetary amount ofthe beverage being dispensed, and for displaying the number of pulsescounted, pulse generator means for continuously generating said pulses,gate means for controlling the length of said pulse trains, said gatemeans having a pulse input connected to the output of said pulsegenerator means, a pulse output connected to each of said first pulsecounters and to a second pulse counter, and a control input connectedvia logic circuit means to said beverage selector switches and to pulsecount preselector switches associated with said beverage selectorswitches and connected to said second pulse counter for selecting acount corresponding to the monetary amount of the selected beverage,whereby said gate means is in its enabling condition on actuation of afirst one of said key-operated switches and subsequent actuation of afirst one of said beverage selecting switches, and in its inhibitingcondition on occurrence of an output signal of said pulse countpreselector switches when said second counter assumes a counting statecorresponding to the count selected by said pulse count preselectorswitches, a plurality of first adjustable timing circuits eachassociated with a different beverage selector switch for controlling aflow control member for the selected beverage to open said flow controlmember on occurrence of said output signal of said pulse countpreselector switches for dispensing the selected beverage through one ofsaid pipes, and again to close said flow control member on occurrence ofan output signal of said associated timing circuit, and electronicinterlocking means for the prevention of the effect of actuation of asecond beverage selector switch at least until termination of the pulsecounting in said first and second pulse counters brought about by theactuation of said first keyoperated switch and said first beverageselector switch.

2. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality ofresettable stores, each of said stores being connected to a differentkey-operated switch and beverage selector switch for storing theoperating state of the associated switch.

3. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the firstpulse counters comprises an inhibiting input connected to the output ofthe store of the associated key-operated switch for enabling said pulsecounter when said store is set after actuation of said keytoperatedswitch.

4. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, comprising at least onesecond locking circuit, said beverage selector switches being connectedto said at least one second locking circuit, said second locking circuitbeing controlled by the output signal of a second AND-function circuithaving a plurality of inputs, whereby the output signal of each of saidAND-function circuits unlocks the associated locking circuit whenconcurrently only one beverage selector switch is actuated, one of saidkey-operated switches is actuated and the pulse counting is terminated.

5. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first timingcircuits are monostable multivibrators arranged to be triggered by theoutput signal of the associated pulse count preselector switch, theoutput of each of said first timing circuits being further connected toa reset input of said stores connected to said beverage selectorswitches for resetting said switches when said first timing circuitreassumes its stable state,

6. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of saidstores connected to a beverage selector switch has a further outputconnected to the associated first timing circuit for inhibiting saidfirst timing circuit when said store is not set.

7. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controlinput of said gate means is connected to the output of a secondOR-function circuit having a plurality of inputs, each input of saidOR-function circuit being connected to the output of a different one ofa plurality of third AND-function circuits, each of said thirdAND-function circuits having two inputs, one of said inputs of saidthird AND-function circuits being connected to the output of a differentone of said stores associated with said beverage selection switches, theother input being connected to the output of the associated first timingcircuit, whereby said gate means is enabled only when one of said storesof said beverage selector switches is set and said timing circuit is inits inactivated condition.

8. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein a secondadjustable timing circuit is connected to the output of said secondOR-function circuit for generating a reset signal delayed with respectto the instant of enabling said gate means.

9. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, comprising a firstlocking circuit, said operated switches being connected to said firstlocking circuit, said locking circuit being controlled by the outputsignal of a first AND-function circuit having a plurality of inputs,whereby the output signal of said first AND-function circuit unlockssaid locking circuit when one of said key-operated switches is actuatedand none of said stores is set.

10. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein saidkey-operated switches have two sets of parallel contacts, a first set ofcontacts being connected to said stores and a second set of contactsbeing connected to a source of fixed potential, said first AND- functioncircuit having two inputs, one of said inputs being connected to saidfixed potential via said second set of contacts, and the other inputbeing connected to the output of a first OR-function circuit havingseveral inriuts each connected to a different one of said stores.

1. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 10,

wherein said reset signal from said second timing circuit is supplied tosaid second pulse counter, to each of said second AND-function circuitsand to one input of a fourth AND-function circuit having two inputs, theoutput of said fourth AND-function circuit being connected to resetinputs of said stores connected to said first set of contacts of saidkey-operated switches, and the second input of said fourth AND-functioncircuit being connected to said source of fixed potential via saidsecond set of contacts of said key-operated switches, whereby at theearliest at the instant of the termination of the pulse counting in saidfirst and second pulse counter one of said key-operated switches and oneof said beverage selector switches can be actuated.

1. In an automatic beverage dispenser for dispensing drinks having aplurality of key-operated switches, each of said switches being actuatedby a different key, a plurality of dispensing pipes for said drinks, aplatform for at least one liquid container, said platform being locatedbelow said dispensing pipes, a plurality of beverage selector switches,said beverage selector switches being selectively operated to controlthe type of beverage dispensed through one of said pipes, and summingindicator means for additively registering and dispLaying monetaryamounts corresponding to the beverages dispensed, an improvement whereinsaid indicator means includes a plurality of first pulse counters eachassociated with a different keyoperated switch for counting pulses in apulse train the length of which corresponds to the monetary amount ofthe beverage being dispensed, and for displaying the number of pulsescounted, pulse generator means for continuously generating said pulses,gate means for controlling the length of said pulse trains, said gatemeans having a pulse input connected to the output of said pulsegenerator means, a pulse output connected to each of said first pulsecounters and to a second pulse counter, and a control input connectedvia logic circuit means to said beverage selector switches and to pulsecount preselector switches associated with said beverage selectorswitches and connected to said second pulse counter for selecting acount corresponding to the monetary amount of the selected beverage,whereby said gate means is in its enabling condition on actuation of afirst one of said keyoperated switches and subsequent actuation of afirst one of said beverage selecting switches, and in its inhibitingcondition on occurrence of an output signal of said pulse countpreselector switches when said second counter assumes a counting statecorresponding to the count selected by said pulse count preselectorswitches, a plurality of first adjustable timing circuits eachassociated with a different beverage selector switch for controlling aflow control member for the selected beverage to open said flow controlmember on occurrence of said output signal of said pulse countpreselector switches for dispensing the selected beverage through one ofsaid pipes, and again to close said flow control member on occurrence ofan output signal of said associated timing circuit, and electronicinterlocking means for the prevention of the effect of actuation of asecond beverage selector switch at least until termination of the pulsecounting in said first and second pulse counters brought about by theactuation of said first key-operated switch and said first beverageselector switch.
 2. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1,including a plurality of resettable stores, each of said stores beingconnected to a different key-operated switch and beverage selectorswitch for storing the operating state of the associated switch.
 3. Abeverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the firstpulse counters comprises an inhibiting input connected to the output ofthe store of the associated key-operated switch for enabling said pulsecounter when said store is set after actuation of said key-operatedswitch.
 4. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2, comprising atleast one second locking circuit, said beverage selector switches beingconnected to said at least one second locking circuit, said secondlocking circuit being controlled by the output signal of a secondAND-function circuit having a plurality of inputs, whereby the outputsignal of each of said AND-function circuits unlocks the associatedlocking circuit when concurrently only one beverage selector switch isactuated, one of said key-operated switches is actuated and the pulsecounting is terminated.
 5. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2,wherein said first timing circuits are monostable multivibratorsarranged to be triggered by the output signal of the associated pulsecount preselector switch, the output of each of said first timingcircuits being further connected to a reset input of said storesconnected to said beverage selector switches for resetting said switcheswhen said first timing circuit reassumes its stable state.
 6. A beveragedispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said stores connectedto a beverage selector switch has a further output connected to theassociated first timing circuit for inhibiting said first timing circuitwhen said store is not set.
 7. A beverage dispenser as claImed in claim2, wherein said control input of said gate means is connected to theoutput of a second OR-function circuit having a plurality of inputs,each input of said OR-function circuit being connected to the output ofa different one of a plurality of third AND-function circuits, each ofsaid third AND-function circuits having two inputs, one of said inputsof said third AND-function circuits being connected to the output of adifferent one of said stores associated with said beverage selectionswitches, the other input being connected to the output of theassociated first timing circuit, whereby said gate means is enabled onlywhen one of said stores of said beverage selector switches is set andsaid timing circuit is in its inactivated condition.
 8. A beveragedispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein a second adjustable timingcircuit is connected to the output of said second OR-function circuitfor generating a reset signal delayed with respect to the instant ofenabling said gate means.
 9. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 2,comprising a first locking circuit, said key-operated switches beingconnected to said first locking circuit, said locking circuit beingcontrolled by the output signal of a first AND-function circuit having aplurality of inputs, whereby the output signal of said firstAND-function circuit unlocks said locking circuit when one of saidkey-operated switches is actuated and none of said stores is set.
 10. Abeverage dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein said key-operatedswitches have two sets of parallel contacts, a first set of contactsbeing connected to said stores and a second set of contacts beingconnected to a source of fixed potential, said first AND-functioncircuit having two inputs, one of said inputs being connected to saidfixed potential via said second set of contacts, and the other inputbeing connected to the output of a first OR-function circuit havingseveral inputs each connected to a different one of said stores.
 11. Abeverage dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein said reset signalfrom said second timing circuit is supplied to said second pulsecounter, to each of said second AND-function circuits and to one inputof a fourth AND-function circuit having two inputs, the output of saidfourth AND-function circuit being connected to reset inputs of saidstores connected to said first set of contacts of said key-operatedswitches, and the second input of said fourth AND-function circuit beingconnected to said source of fixed potential via said second set ofcontacts of said key-operated switches, whereby at the earliest at theinstant of the termination of the pulse counting in said first andsecond pulse counter one of said key-operated switches and one of saidbeverage selector switches can be actuated.